It isn’t as though the careers of Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken have stalled, despite the modest turnout for the pair’s performance Sunday evening at Club Nokia in the downtown L.A. Live complex.

The winner and runner-up of American Idol’s second season (2003) have both maintained solid record sales and noteworthy philanthropy while simultaneously diversifying their portfolios. Studdard, for starters, earned positive notices for playing Fats Waller in a recent touring revival of the 1978 musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, while also garnering strong reviews (including a B+ from Entertainment Weekly) for his fourth album, last year’s Jam & Lewis-produced Love Is. After years of seeming stiff on stage and in front of cameras -- a marvelous voice unmatched by a compelling personality -- the Velvet Teddy Bear has developed into an easygoing charmer whose appeal still has untapped potential to expand beyond his core R&B demographic.

Aiken, meanwhile, has remained one of Idol’s most recognizable icons, arguably more famous for who he is than what he’s done. As well-received as was his Broadway turn as Sir Robin in Spamalot, and no matter what kudos he racks up for his records (including his new, Johnny Mathis-esque standards collection, for venerable Decca Records), he’s now just as widely known for coming out about his sexuality ... and at roughly the same time as the self-unveiled revelation that he had fathered a son with Jaymes Foster, sister of songwriter and producer David Foster, who had helmed three of Aiken’s albums for RCA.

An only slightly old-fashioned Southern gentleman with natural comic timing, Aiken has further bolstered his reputation via memorably funny television appearances, especially as a frequent guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Methinks he envies the host: quick-witted but ever-sweet Aiken would be perfect for a revamp mash-up of The Mike Douglas Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Unlike so many other Idol-related talents -- not counting established superstars like Carrie Underwood, Chris Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson, the latter of whom was in attendance Sunday night -- there’s no telling what Aiken and Studdard might do as the years trudge on; acting is probably more likely than career-jolting albums or tours at this point, though I can't help but think what wonders it would do for Aiken were he to score an opening slot on, say, a Michael Bublé outing.

All the same, next time these genial fellows suspect their careers might be approaching low ebbs, they might consider pitching their current Timeless Tour to Las Vegas bigwigs as a semi-permanent throwback production. Club Nokia might as well have been a showgirl-studded ballroom at the Stardust in the ’70s Sunday night. Spruce up this two-hour trip through time with some modern razzle-dazzle, inject the arrangements (not the gags) with a bit more personality, and the whole thing could kill with musty blue hairs and partying twentysomethings alike.

That’s largely because The Ruben & Clay Show doesn’t focus on either performer’s material at all -- it’s instead a nostalgic, hit-stuffed spree from the ’60s through the ’90s, complete with mega-medleys for each decade that ran longer than each singer’s solo spotlights. Frankly, it’s precisely the sort of memory-lane stroll, thick with satisfying covers, that would have packed arenas full of Idol lovers in the months immediately after Ruben bested Clay by a still-disputed 130,000 votes.

“This is something we’ve talked about doing for a long time,” Aiken said at the outset, just after the two men clowned around in the opening number, upstaging one another as the tune switched from one Idol-finale anthem (Studdard’s “Flying without Wings”) to another (Aiken’s “This Is the Night”), then riffing humorously on the apparent incongruence of a soul star who digs Al Green and the Temptations performing alongside someone who evokes the spirit of Andy Williams.

“Ruben, it’s really a blessing to have you open for me,” Aiken then mentioned. “I don’t think that’s what’s happening here,” the big man replied. “Well, you came out first.” “No, Clay, I think you came out first.”

It was shticky asides like that exchange that kept people giggling between the covers. And make no mistake, after that introductory moment there wasn’t anything else in this set that wasn’t a redo.

Each vocalist shined on his own: in addition to nailing the sky-high notes on Orleans’ “Still the One” and (in the Seventies Medley) Boston’s “More Than a Feeling,” Aiken capably handled Elvis’ “Suspicious Minds” and Manilow’s “Mandy,” while Studdard expertly summoned the grit of Otis Redding (for “Bring It on Home to Me”) and the effortless glide of Marvin Gaye (on a silken segue from “Mercy Mercy Me” into “What’s Going On”) before impressing as usual with his nuanced, Luther Vandross-informed reading of Leon Russell’s “Superstar.”

Yet, along with plenty of playful ribbing (too often accompanied by ba-dum-bum rimshots) and some goofy skits (one involving Studdard as a money-hungry televangelist, another that put Aiken in ridiculous MC Hammer pants), it was the mammoth run-on medleys (see the setlist below) that really set this feel-good bit of showbiz in the heart of Sin City.

With choreographed pacing that also involved their two backing vocalists -- blond Casey Thompson (pedestrian on Aretha’s “Natural Woman” but a very fine harmonizing duet partner for both stars) and voluptuous Quiana Parler (ordinary on Chaka Khan's “I’m Every Woman” but better on Donna Summer’s “On the Radio” and surprisingly forceful for Alanis’ “You Oughta Know”) -- Aiken and Studdard steamrolled gleefully through material both expectedly glossy and uncharacteristic. The Motown gems suited the latter as much as the power ballads of Chicago and REO Speedwagon were tailored for the former, but what I can’t shake is the sight of Aiken kicking off Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” or both of them kicking up their heels for Bell Biv DeVoe’s “Poison” and New Kids on the Block’s “The Right Stuff.”

Trust me, I know how cheesy it all sounds, and I’m not suggesting this was a concert-going high. But as salutes to the past go, you can quickly find a whole lot worse.

It’s such a schmaltzy conception that I often found myself wanting these two to give me a reason to loathe their performance -- except that I kept enjoying myself. Loosely silly as their show is, it’s also unabashedly joyful, and above all smoothly executed ... a simple entertainment that could have legs if given half a chance and a bigger budget ... a kinda-corny, kinda-cute variety show ...

Related Links

Ruben Studdard, left, and Clay Aiken perform together at L.A. Live's Club Nokia on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard sings solo during his show with Clay Aiken at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Clay Aiken sings solo during his show with Ruben Studdard at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, left, and Clay Aiken perform together at L.A. Live's Club Nokia on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, left, and Clay Aiken had fun shoving one another out of the way to take the spotlight during their Club Nokia show in Los Angeles on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Christine, left, of Whittier, and Sandy, of Rancho Cucamonga, hang out at Club Nokia before Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken's show Sunday in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Entering Club Nokia for Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show are Chris and Cat, left, of Long Beach, and Dan and Susan, from Granada Hills. Dan by the way, claims to be Clay Aiken's No. 1 fan. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michelle, left, and Linda were excited about winning VIP tickets to Sunday's Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Having fun at Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show at Club Nokia are, from left, Billy, of Long Beach, Samantha and Jackie, from Rowland Heights, and Elizabeth and Christopher, from Long Beach. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Enjoying the scene at Club Nokia for Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken's show Sunday in L.A. are, from left, Rayloria Coleman of Ontario, Karen Galindo of La Verne, and Liz Ocampo of Glendora. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
The Swedlund family, from Irvine, had fun at Sunday's Ruben Studdard and Clay Aiken show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Sunday. From left are Jon, Lisa, Sarah and Andrew Lambert. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Best friends Emy Bowman, left, of Costa Mesa, and Sunnie White, of Orange, are huge Clay Aiken fans, and had loads of fun at Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
'Claymates' Sandi Widner, left, of Lomita, and Eleanor Butler, of Hawthorne, were all smiles after Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Big Clay Aiken fans Lois Wills, right, and Sandi Widner joyfully embrace after watching Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
There were plenty of Clay Aiken fans at Sunday's Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard show at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, left, and Clay Aiken sing together during their Club Nokia performance on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Clay Aiken sings solo during his show with Ruben Studdard at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard sings solo during his show with Clay Aiken at Club Nokia in Los Angeles on Sunday. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, center left, and Clay Aiken perform with backup singers Casey Thompson, left, and Quiana Parler during Sunday's Club Nokia show in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, from left, Clay Aiken and backup singer Quiana Parler get down during Sunday's Club Nokia show in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, center left, and Clay Aiken perform with backup singers Casey Thompson, left, and Quiana Parler during Sunday's Club Nokia show in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Ruben Studdard, from left, Clay Aiken and backup singer Quiana Parler get down during Sunday's Club Nokia show in Los Angeles. ARMANDO BROWN, FOR THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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